Gig Harbor football faces new challenges, new goals in 4A SPSL
Throughout an extended offseason for the Gig Harbor High School football team, their mission remained steady: to “get over the hump,” and claim the title in the 3A South Sound Conference, in senior Griffin Sparrow’s words.
The Tides’ two league losses in 2019 -- to Yelm and Peninsula, both by 24+ points -- were the deciding factor in last year’s standings. Peninsula won the league, while Yelm was runner-up.
But after a recent move to the 4A South Puget Sound League -- a temporary switch meant to increase the odds of athletic play by eliminating inter-region competition -- the Tides won’t exactly have their chance to knock off the two programs above them in the standings.
What they do have, however, is the chance to play competitive football this year, something many coaches around the area doubted would ever come to fruition.
It’s far from a guarantee that high school football will start on the scheduled start date of Feb. 1. Regions must advance into phase two of Governor Inslee’s “Roadmap to Recovery,” which includes decreasing trends in COVID-19 case and hospital admission rates.
Having a roadmap of sorts to guide schools throughout the remainder of a school year, however, was a large step in the right direction.
“Some people are skeptical, some people are optimistic,” Tides coach George Fairhart said. “Right now, our schedule says Feb. 1, so we’re trying to prepare our team (so) we’ll be ready to go Feb. 1. If there’s changes made, then we’ll adapt to whatever the changes are, and keep moving forward. We’ve been doing this for the whole year. … We continue to adapt and try to plan for whatever date (that’s) in front of us and adjust from there.”
When both Gig Harbor and Peninsula officially moved to the SPSL, it was deemed temporary for the first season of athletic play, which spans through March 20. Now, Fairhart says the move has been extended throughout the rest of the school year.
It’ll be a test for both the Tides and Seahawks, now competing in a division alongside Curtis, Bellarmine, and Sumner. What it does provide, Fairhart says, is the opportunity to tackle the area’s best schools as a “visitor” in their new league.
“The SPSL is a great league, and we know we’re just a visitor,” Fairhart said. “We’re just going in there for one year, and every league is a little bit different on policies and procedures, and so we’re tiptoeing in and being very respectful that we’re the visitors. We’re visiting the neighbor’s fancy house and taking off our shoes at the door, and we’re going in and are very careful where we sit, and we’re not going to move the furniture. But we are going to provide competitive opportunities for all levels of our programs.”
What has yet to be nailed down by coaches and athletic directors are some important specifics, such as scheduling and transportation. The WIAA said that season one would span seven weeks, though the SPSL has yet to finalize their schedule. And it’s entirely possible, Fairhart says, that players and coaches have to self-transport to games.
The SPSL may also decide to realign divisions for each sport, a move that would help balance the playing field for student-athletes.
“If we’re really going to start Feb. 1, we’ve got to have (a) vision… I mean, it’s time,” Fairhart said. “I’m really hopeful they come out with something.”
As of now, the Tides remain committed to their practice schedule, which has focused on conditioning, given the strict safety protocols in place.
It’s been roughly a year since players practiced fully in pads, but the importance of coming together as a team is a concept Fairhart says has been highlighted by the pandemic.
“I think there’s a lot of value in sports,” Fairhart said. “I think this year, with all of the isolation and kids not really able to get together, just the value of team building and going through that process… it’s highlighted more.
“(There’s) not going to be any state championships. We’re really trying to go through the process of building a team and learning the lessons that go with that, with coming together and accepting roles and learning to play by the rules. … We need to get these kids together. There’s a lot of mental health benefits of communicating with your peers and working things out and going through tough situations and learning how to deal with that. Those things are really valuable.”